Posts Tagged ‘Gay’

It’s happening, after all the fuss and fannying, Pride is happening and it’s on this weekend in Brighton, woop!

Ok, it’s ticketed where before it was free, but there’s some justification when you look at the line-up: Joe McElderry, 80s pop icon Sonia and BootyLuv will all be shaking their booties.

As before, it’s all going on in Preston Park, after the Pride Parade, which leaves Madeira Drive at 11am. Once the crowds have been whipped into a frenzy, the boys have squeezed into their Lycra and the queens have perfected their intricacies (probably with a little bit of masking tape) the party gets underway.

The main park event promises much – remember, you need tickets for Pride so don’t just follow the crowd as you did previously.

There’s a community village (for everyone); a BME tent (Black and Minority Ethnic – of course still for everyone); a cabaret tent (for the drama ones); and of course there’s the ‘Bears’ tent (for the hairy ones).

As well as the Live stage, you’ve the Go.Go Festival/Zhoosh Women’s Tent (helped along with Brighton and Hove’s very own LGBT social network ZhooshBrighton.

The Gay Men’s Chorus make an appearance mid-afternoon before the gloves come off and things ramp up in the early evening.

All the fun and a fair!

And there’s the usual heart-worrying fairground rides – I’d go just for that amazing old-time chair ride (see pic) as it beats even the fastest TurboMegabooster!

Student Pride is clearly a celebration, but what else has it got going on?

“Thanks to our growing fan base and generous coverage from the majority of the UK lgbt media, it’s a great opportunity to mobilise thousands of people from all over the UK, launching campaigns such as ’Love without borders’. And as an event, it’s always fantastic to meet and get to know people from all over the UK and celebrate your sexuality.”

In which Brighton clubs and locations will we find you?

“Our pre-party on Friday evening is at R-Bar and Revenge from 8pm. On Saturday, our main daytime festivities are at Oceana, 1pm-5.30pm, the scene tour is 7.30pm-10.45pm, and the fantastic club night is at Coalition, 10.45pm till bedtime. There will be an after party at Revenge for those who’s partying spirits remain unquenched!”

How has Student Pride evolved over the last six years?

“After the Oxford Brookes Christian Union’s talk on ‘Homosexuality and the Bible’ in 2005 the Brookes LGBT society felt obliged to put the other side of the argument across but needed a larger audience to attract well known speakers. This coupled with Oxford moving their pride to July, resulted in National Student Pride!

Following two successful events in Oxford National Student Pride joined with the NUS LGBT campaign in 2007. 2009 saw the move to Brighton and 2010 was by far the biggest and best yet, supported by The Prime Minister, Cameron and Clegg and hosted in Brighton. With a new patron: Dan Gillespie Sells, Lead singer of The Feeling and whole pile of new features it was one to remember! Sponsored by Bacardi there was a women’s room programmed by brighton pride women’s tent and a massive club night with live bands and a surprise appearance from Ronan Keating!2011 is set to surpass the 2010 event. We are proudly sponsored by Ernst and Young, and with our first X-Factor winner Joe McElderry headlining (with support from Morrissey’s favourite band Doll & the Kicks), we’re in for a real treat!”

"the most LGBT friendly town in the UK"

Great idea to make the day event free, what’s happening?

“We have a celeb discussion panel hosted by Attitude Magazine editor Matthew Todd, featuring Dr Christian Jessen (C4, Embarassing bodies), Aled Haydn Jones (BBC radio 1), John Amaechi (out gay NBA basketball player), and Aaron Porter (NUS president). The Only Way is Essex stars Harry and Sam will also be joining us during the day.

There will be a screening of the awarding winning documentary ‘Beyond Gay- the politics of pride’ which follows the Vancouver Pride organisers as they travel to places where Pride is still steeped in protest to personally experience the rampant homophobia that still exists.

We’re very lucky to have a live music room hosted by the Women’s Room stage from Brighton pride, featuring some great talents: Lianne Hall, Danni Nicholls, Heads Hearts, Mel Sanson and Al Start. Make sure to stop by the market stalls too!”

Staying the weekend in Brighton, why is the town so special for the UK LGBT community?

Brighton holds the torch for being the most LGBT friendly city in the UK, thanks to many of the LGBT owned cafés, shops, restaurants, and hotels (like the Ambassador!). It’s also been host to one of the few free pride festivals, giving much of the wider Brighton community the chance to feel involved in celebrating LGBT diversity. Brighton pride will no longer be a free event, but hopefully the spirit of community inclusion will continue.

Staying the weekend in Brighton, why is the town so special for the UK LGBT community?

“Brighton holds the torch for being the most LGBT friendly city in the UK, thanks to many of the LGBT owned cafés, shops, restaurants, and hotels (like the Ambassador!). It’s also been host to one of the few free pride festivals, giving much of the wider Brighton community the chance to feel involved in celebrating LGBT diversity. Brighton pride will no longer be a free event, but hopefully the spirit of community inclusion will continue.”

You can catch up with the organisers and keep up to date this weekend by following @studentpride and @ambassadorbtn or on Facebook

Its a wonderful place, it’s unique and every weekend people grab hotel offers looking to arrive at the last minute and take a chance.

The straightest man in the village...

But if any city has a bit of a reputation, it’s Brighton. We’ve all been there: in a conversation with someone from another town, once you’ve said you are from Brighton pretty soon some half-arsed comment gets sent back in your direction. “Oh, it’s full of gay people, isn’t it? that kind of thing.

Well, we love living here. And we know that everyone who visits leaves with a good impression – and sometimes they never leave at all…

There’s plenty of sterotypes about Brighton, and we are glad to say that many of them are true!

Here’s 5 unlikely things said about Brighton which are actually true.

People skateboard to work

Oh yes they do! There was even a crazy roller-blading guy on Lewes Rd. Whoever he was , he’d be seen roller-blading his way into town in just a pair of shorts, even in winter.

It’s full of gay people

Oh yes, of course its full of gay people: it’s Brighton! But don’t think its Mardi Gras everyday, in fact the best thing you can do is not think. This is the gay capital of the country – it sets the standard – and frankly on most days you’d be pushed to even notice, so get over it.

It’s a party town, just for party people

No, it’s a party town for everyone! Our hotel offers attract every type of visitor, from young couples to pensioners to students: the town isn’t some naff fairground and club zone. But oh yes, we party!

Got to love it

It’s a freakshow

Damn right it is! Be all you can be, be everything you can be – in this town everything goes. So the people who would stand out in other places, fit right in. And we love to celebrate it so watch out for parades, street parties, punks and pimps.

It’s the end of ambition

I couldn’t believe it when a friend of mine told me this. His new colleague in London said, “Brighton: it’s the end of ambition, isn’t it?” F**k off! this city is buzzing for business, and is set to recover faster than any other in the country because of its progressive attitudes.

We love it because it’s great for families, too – not just digital media coolios and dykes on bikes – take a look at our Brighton local events and what’s happening on half term in Brighton and you’ll get the idea.

That’s the response I usually get when I tell people I live in this city! And the first time they visit, either staying in a hotel in Brighton or crashing over at my place, they are always poised to witness some ubercamp, boy-on-boy, girl-on-girl, tranny, bi-fest!

Living here, we just don’t see it like that. Brighton is very gay friendly. It supports the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Transgender) community. But it’s as much about tolerance and equality than individual sexuality. And to live in a town with such an open mind is truly a privilege.

Yes, you will see public affection between people of the same sex, but you’ll see straight people holding hands and kissing too!

Everyone is welcome here. That’s the beauty of this place, and even on a short weekend break you can pick up the vibe. And forget the stereotypes; there are certain styles and fashions in every community.

Here’s a link to our sister blog aimed more at the LGBT community; regular people going regular things, but just a little better dressed!